Teachers strike- right to sue for loss of earnings
Teachers strike- right to sue for loss of earnings
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Discussion

Rob_T

Original Poster:

1,916 posts

281 months

Sunday 26th June 2011
quotequote all
Whilst the teachers strike does not effect me, I am wondering what the potential is for parents to sue the unions for loss of earnings as a result of not being able to work on thursday. I would have thought there is an argument here as it seems the unions have gone out of their way to make the disruption as widespread as possible by instructing other steachers not to take on classes of pupils whose teachers are striking. Clearly such a lawsuit would require mass co-operation of parents for this to make any real impact. But if it could be achieved it could produce an interesting battleground. What would the union response be I wonder?

Y282

20,566 posts

202 months

Sunday 26th June 2011
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"good luck"

ExChrispy Porker

17,733 posts

258 months

Sunday 26th June 2011
quotequote all
No
Trade Disputes Act 1906

Rob_T

Original Poster:

1,916 posts

281 months

Sunday 26th June 2011
quotequote all
ExChrispy Porker said:
No
Trade Disputes Act 1906
Excellent answer... How about repealing the act. How would that effect strikes in general in the future? On the basis that strikes don't achieve their desired objectives and are a rather primitive form of trying to get your way, it would surely force unions to take a more considered approach to negotiations rather than throwing their rattles out of their prams...

ExChrispy Porker

17,733 posts

258 months

Sunday 26th June 2011
quotequote all
Rob_T said:
Excellent answer... How about repealing the act. How would that effect strikes in general in the future? On the basis that strikes don't achieve their desired objectives and are a rather primitive form of trying to get your way, it would surely force unions to take a more considered approach to negotiations rather than throwing their rattles out of their prams...
not by Thursday they won't.

Bing o

15,184 posts

249 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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I do wonder where the Anglo-American obsession with suing and compensation came from. It's really quite sad.

Urban Sports

11,321 posts

233 months

Monday 27th June 2011
quotequote all
Rob_T said:
Whilst the teachers strike does not effect me, I am wondering what the potential is for parents to sue the unions for loss of earnings as a result of not being able to work on thursday. I would have thought there is an argument here as it seems the unions have gone out of their way to make the disruption as widespread as possible by instructing other steachers not to take on classes of pupils whose teachers are striking. Clearly such a lawsuit would require mass co-operation of parents for this to make any real impact. But if it could be achieved it could produce an interesting battleground. What would the union response be I wonder?
rofl

r11co

6,244 posts

260 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Kinda typical question I'd expect from the 'no-one's loss is more important than my loss' culture we find ourselves in today.

chris watton

22,547 posts

290 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Shame the whole of the private sector didn't strike when it became clear what Gordon Brown did to our pensions...

Jinx

12,022 posts

290 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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chris watton said:
Shame the whole of the private sector didn't strike when it became clear what Gordon Brown did to our pensions...
Too busy working......

phumy

5,828 posts

267 months

Monday 27th June 2011
quotequote all
Rob_T said:
Whilst the teachers strike does not effect me, I am wondering what the potential is for parents to sue the unions for loss of earnings as a result of not being able to work on thursday. I would have thought there is an argument here as it seems the unions have gone out of their way to make the disruption as widespread as possible by instructing other steachers not to take on classes of pupils whose teachers are striking. Clearly such a lawsuit would require mass co-operation of parents for this to make any real impact. But if it could be achieved it could produce an interesting battleground. What would the union response be I wonder?
I take it you were not around in the 70's and 80's when every man and his dog went on strike, I cant remember any claims going in then for earnings lost.

Bing o

15,184 posts

249 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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phumy said:
I take it you were not around in the 70's and 80's when every man and his dog went on strike, I cant remember any claims going in then for earnings lost.
Let's face it Phumy, the UK is full of fking pussies who'd rather litigate over everything than man the fk up and get on with their lives. Sad to see us disappearing up our own aholes like the yanks have done with our compensation culture.

elster

17,517 posts

240 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Bing o said:
Let's face it Phumy, the UK is full of fking pussies who'd rather litigate strike over everything than man the fk up and get on with their lives. Sad to see us disappearing up our own aholes like the yanks have done with our compensation culture.

Bing o

15,184 posts

249 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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I agree with the edit

Willie Dee

1,559 posts

238 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Rob_T said:
What would the union response be I wonder?
Strike some more? Leave you to look after your kids once again.

voyds9

8,490 posts

313 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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I thought parents had to sign a contract nowadays to say their kids would be in school.

Perhaps the parents could 'strike' when they need to take Little Johnny abroad in term time

singlecoil

35,834 posts

276 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Striking is a bit ike a kid stamping its feet in rage. It's understood by the striker (and the kid) that it's not going to do any good, but it's still nice to let everyone know just how cross you are.

NorthernBoy

12,642 posts

287 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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It seems pretty likely that the protection given to strikers will be eroded if these strikes become serious. People should, of course, have the right to not come in to work, if they don't want to, but as per their contract, they should give formal written notice of their intention to resign.

I can't see any reason that a member of staff can, in effect, tell their employer that they are going to pick and chose whether to work yet still expect to keep their job. It'll not be a surprise if it becomes easier to let strikers go, which, in my opinion, is a good thing.

rs1952

5,247 posts

289 months

Monday 27th June 2011
quotequote all
ExChrispy Porker said:
No
Trade Disputes Act 1906
And the background to that Act:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taff_Vale_Railway_Co_...

JustinP1

13,363 posts

260 months

Monday 27th June 2011
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
Striking is a bit ike a kid stamping its feet in rage. It's understood by the striker (and the kid) that it's not going to do any good, but it's still nice to let everyone know just how cross you are.
Indeed.

When trade unions were envisaged it was to protect the rights of the individual or group of workers against a company to stop them bullying workers.

However, today, a strike is usually used as a bullying tactic by a union with the bargaining chips being the inconvenience to the general public.